如果…就
rúguǒ…jiù
Fill the empty circle and the next hand moves
The picture Something that hasn't happened drawn as an empty circle up front, and the instant it is filled in, the action behind it follows. 如果…就 says if it turns out that way, do this; 只要…就 says that one thing alone is enough.
Where the picture shows up in 如果…就
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Slot filled, result follows
如果明天下雨，我们就改到下周。
rúguǒ míngtiān xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù gǎi dào xiàzhōu
If it rains tomorrow, we'll move it to next week.
a raindrop sketched on tomorrow's square of the calendar, then a finger sliding to next week's
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A condition laid before a favor
如果你有时间，就帮我看一下这份合同。
rúguǒ nǐ yǒu shíjiān, jiù bāng wǒ kàn yíxià zhè fèn hétong
If you have time, take a look at this contract for me.
a glance at the other person's watch, then the contract quietly slid across
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要是, the spoken form
要是不舒服，就早点回家休息。
yàoshi bù shūfu, jiù zǎodiǎn huí jiā xiūxi
If you're not feeling well, go home early and rest.
a hand laid on a forehead, then a bag handed over and the door pointed at
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Wrapping 'in that case' with 的话
如果是这样的话，我们重新算一次。
rúguǒ shì zhèyàng de huà, wǒmen chóngxīn suàn yí cì
If that's how it is, let's work it out once more.
a head lifted after listening, and the calculator pulled back over
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Standing in a slot that isn't true
如果我是你，我会先问清楚价格。
rúguǒ wǒ shì nǐ, wǒ huì xiān wèn qīngchu jiàgé
If I were you, I'd make sure of the price first.
one foot set on the other person's chair while a fingertip taps the price tag
All of it in one picture
如果…就 is an empty slot and a hand waiting behind it. Fill the slot with rain and the date slides to next week; fill it with free time and the hand reaches for the contract. In speech the slot opens with 要是, 'in that case' wraps it as 的话, and for a slot that isn't true at all you stand in it: if I were you.